Do you think of the iPhone as a rip-off

Now, before I start let me just say I think the iPhone is AMAZING, by far the best mobile phone i've ever used. The thing is though that on pay monthly it is $399 and im not sure how it works over there in the US but most, if not all, phones that are on pay monthly here in the UK are free to purchase then of course you pay your line rental each month. However, the iPhone, in the UK, is £269 to purchase and the cheapest tariff you can get is £35 a month, baring in mind Apple get 10% of all phone bills. Now, before this the most expensive pay monthly phone I ever saw was £50 to purchase and about £30 line rental a month and it was the Nokia N95, which costs £500 on PAYG, so you get the idea, Apple have made this thing pretty damn expensive.

But its not just that, they have purposely crippled the iPod Touch to sell more iPhones.

Not only that, but they are going to extreme lengths to make sure that the iPod Touch is not uncrippled, I mean they issued a take down WHILE A FILE WAS BEING UPLOADED!

And theres even more, they stopped all the unlocks from working the the iPhone AND all 3rd party apps, and im almost sure they did that because they will get more money from everyones phone bills.

No, they're kinda becoming like them... big electronics company with substantial media, distribution and content interests. Doing what they can to ensure they've got a future in 10-50 years time...

Is the iPhone a rip-off? Depends on how much of that supposedly 'unlimited daily' web allowance you use that comes with contract. I wouldn't use that much, so it wouldn't be that much of a good buy for me right now.

But I'm not to forced to buy it either, so I can't see why people should call it a ripoff. It's not cheap at the moment, but what electronics technology hasn't got cheaper, faster and better over time?

I am definitely paying more for my cell phone service now than I was 6 months ago, but that was a crappy LG phone from Verizon with no data plan, 200 texts a month, no ipod, no web, no email, no visual voice mail.

The only thing good was MMS and the flash/zoom on the camera and that is only good in comparison to what the iPhone lacks.

I currently pay something like $70 a month versus $45 a month in the past and I could not be happier.

For some people it simply will not be worth it. No one says it has to be attractive to all people.

I personally love it and was happy to pay $599 right at launch and am quite happy to pay $30 a month more than I used to pay for far less service and far fewer features.

Depending on what your personal phone experience has been and what you needs and budget are, it may in fact be a rip off for you.

Staff Member

I'm not sure I would call it a rip-off, I just find the complete cost of ownership way too expensive for my mobile phone needs.

I'm currently on an 18 month contract with Vodafone that gives me 100 minutes and 50 texts a month for £14.99 and a free phone. These are perfectly adequate for me, I've never managed to go over my allowance yet. This costs me £270 over 18 months, the same as the iPhone purchase price.

If I wanted to go for the iPhone, I would be forced to go for an expensive contract that came with way too many minutes and texts, which would be wasted. It would also cost me an extra £630 for the 18 months. I know there are the data extras included, but these aren't worth that much to me.

I won't consider buying one until there is more flexibility on contracts. Restricting the iPhone to only one phone company is not good news for the consumer.

I don't personally feel that the price of the Iphone £269 is a rip off, when the N95 was first released I remember it going for about £600 unlocked. What I do feel is a rip off is the Tariffs that O2 will be charging. I'm currently on a 12 month contract with 3 and received the Nokia N73 paying £30 a month for 750 mins, 150 texts, 50 MMS and £5 worth of free downloads. There is no way I would now downgrade for the O2 tariff for 200 Min's and 200 texts for £35!!!! Its just insane. I know you get unlimited data usage but I'd hardly ever use that as i get wi fi at home and the office and even if I did need data would it not be better if O2 had offered a per as you use option or give allow customers to take out their now £7.50 for so called unlimited data usage?
I was going to buy the Iphone and unlock it next week when I'm due to be in New York, but the last couple of days with the unlock/bricking/update business has put me off. I'll settle for the ipod touch in the meantime and wait for the 3G version or some wonderful unlock to come out again for the iphone.

Nope. Best phone ever. Sure it can be better. Everything can. I'm just happy that I don't have to carry around my laptop anymore. And my bill is cheaper than it was on Vz, although coverage isn't as solid.

I don't think the price of the phone is all that bad (now with the price break). Take a look at the razr 2 its going for $500 w/out a contract and it doesnt come close to the iphone. What I think is a ripoff is the 2 yr contract we have to sign, thats bogus cuz we are paying full price for the phone. I do not want to commit to a 2 yr deal or extend my contract when I am buying a phone outright.

I am definitely paying more for my cell phone service now than I was 6 months ago, but that was a crappy LG phone from Verizon with no data plan, 200 texts a month, no ipod, no web, no email, no visual voice mail.

The only thing good was MMS and the flash/zoom on the camera and that is only good in comparison to what the iPhone lacks.

I currently pay something like $70 a month versus $45 a month in the past and I could not be happier.

For some people it simply will not be worth it. No one says it has to be attractive to all people.

I personally love it and was happy to pay $599 right at launch and am quite happy to pay $30 a month more than I used to pay for far less service and far fewer features.

Depending on what your personal phone experience has been and what you needs and budget are, it may in fact be a rip off for you.

That's fine.

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Have the same feelings. Struggled with poor battery life, crashes, and just other problems all while still having to carry my iPod with me to work every night. I have been VERY happy with the iPhone as I wanted a phone/iPod device I could get mail, text, and hit the web when needed. All that and the battery life has been outstanding.

I'm sure in the next models they will try to make more happy but they hit the major market first and it looks like it worked.

If you are one of these customers who has a need that isn't on the iPhone then yeah I would say it is a rip off as there are much better options out there for you.

Given that this the first "smartphone" that I've actually been able to use to surf the web (even without 3g, this is far better than my Q, treo 700,etc) - no it is definitely not a ripoff. Now MS Vista Ultimate? THAT was a ripoff!

Given that this the first "smartphone" that I've actually been able to use to surf the web (even without 3g, this is far better than my Q, treo 700,etc) - no it is definitely not a ripoff. Now MS Vista Ultimate? THAT was a ripoff!

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